Health Headlines 2/7/08

Newsletter February 7, 2008

In This Issue:

This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com
Featured Q&A
Featured Home Remedy
Hidden Hazards in Baby Products?
Folic Acid Reduces Risk of Pre-Eclampsia, Pre-Term Birth
Magnesium Lowers Risk of Cerebral Palsy
Gout Linked to Soft Drinks
Diet Soda Boosts Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
Sugar Eases Pain of Shot

Free Podcast Of The People's Pharmacy Radio Show

Miss the People's Pharmacy radio show last week? Download our podcast! Every week we post the radio show as a free audio podcast. You can subscribe to our podcast using a program such as iTunes, or visit our website and download a particular show you want to hear again. Each People's Pharmacy radio show is a 1 hour audio file which will be posted on Mondays.

Click here to download the podcast of last week's show, 666 Health News Update:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/free_podcast/666_health_news_update_podcast.php
Click here to learn more or subscribe to our podcasts:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/podcast/

Best Choices from The People's Pharmacy

We are pleased to announce a new edition of our book, Best Choices from The People's Pharmacy. Best Choices is filled with natural healing approaches for dozens of common conditions including:

arthritis
high blood pressure
constipation
insomnia
diabetes
leg cramps
headaches
menopause
heartburn
nail fungus
high cholesterol
osteoporosis

We also rate prescription drugs so you can get the best buys for your money. Best Choices is packed with remedies that will surprise you, statistics that will shock you, ratings to help assess your treatment options and drug information that could save your life. Purchases from the web site receive over a 29% discount off the list price of $34.95.

This special edition (524 pages) is not available in any bookstore. It contains an expansion of our People's Pharmacy Favorite Picks (home remedies) and a new chapter on Desert Island Drugs and Dietary Supplements. Some of the country's leading experts have contributed their insights on the best treatments for what ails you. This edition is not in stores or on other Internet sites. It is only available from Rodale Books and directly from The People's Pharmacy.

http://ppcart.fountainshosting.com/p-249-best-choices-from-the-peoples-pharmacy.aspx

This Week on PeoplesPharmacy.com:

This Week's Radio Show: 667 Dealing with Depression
Depression is debilitating and surprisingly common. Scientists have found that 5 percent of the people in a large survey reported symptoms of depression during the previous year. Nearly 13 percent of Americans experience depression at some point during their lives.The...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/radio_shows/667_dealing_with_depression_.php

Castor Oil For Bruises
Q. My mother-in-law uses castor oil for bruises. At Christmas, my sister-in-law sat down in a very heavy old rocker-recliner chair. It went crashing to the floor, and one corner landed right on top of my mother-in-law's foot. My sister-in-law...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/castor_oil_for_bruises.php

Getting Rid Of Nosebleeds
Q. My daughter has excessive nosebleeds. Do you have any herbal or home remedy suggestions? A. You may want to start in the pharmacy. There are three products to consider: Nosebleed QR (www.biolife.com and 800-722-7559), NasalCEASE (www.nasalcease.com and 800-650-6673) and...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/getting_rid_of_nosebleeds.php

Pycnogenol Helps With Hot Flashes
Q. I have tried everything ever suggested for hot flashes but until now have gotten relief only from hormones (HRT). I recently started taking Pycnogenol and have noticed a marked improvement. I stopped HRT about eight months ago and have...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/pycnogenol_helps_with_hot_flashes.php

Yellow Mustard Eases Leg Cramps
Q. We tried a treatment from your column for nighttime leg cramps. My husband used to get them frequently and would have to walk them off while in pain. He read that taking mustard would alleviate them so he tried...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/yellow_mustard_eases_leg_cramps.php

Study Creates Cholesterol Confusion
It all seemed so simple. If you just lowered your cholesterol you could reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Drug companies have done their best to keep you focused on medications that bring cholesterol levels down. Turn...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/editorial/study_creates_cholesterol_confusion.php

Is Stop-Smoking Drug Linked to Violence?
Q. I live in the U.K. On Christmas Eve my boyfriend had been been using Champix for some months. He was drinking and went berserk for no reason, assaulted me and destroyed my apartment. I fled and waited in an...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/is_stopsmoking_drug_linked_to_violence.php

Could Osteoporosis Drug Be Leading To Sore Thumbs?
Q. My doctor recently put me on Fosamax for osteoporosis once a week. A few days later I was in terrible pain with my arthritic thumbs. They hurt so much I wanted to cut them off. I called my doctor...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/could_osteoporosis_drug_be_leading_to_sore_thumbs.php

Using A Neti Pot To Clear Out Sinuses
Q. When I was a child, my mother encouraged me to gargle with salt water when I had a sore throat. I just heard Dr. Oz on Oprah recommend salt water in a neti pot for improving sinus conditions. Are...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/using_a_neti_pot_to_clear_out_sinuses.php

Extended Interview with Dr. Amy Wechsler
Listen to Dr. Amy Wechsler, dermatologist and psychiatrist, discuss common skin problems such as excessive sweating, hair removal, and treating warts, hair loss, chapped lips, cold sores and lice. Dr. Wechsler appeared on our January 26 2008 radio program, 665...
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/audio_files/extended_interview_with_dr_amy_wechsler.php

Getting Rid Of Drugs With Elmer's Glue
Q. I’ve read about the difficulties of disposing of unused drugs and want to share my solution. I poured Elmer’s glue into the pill container to cover the pills and let it set before putting the container in the trash....
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/pharmacy_qa/getting_rid_of_drugs_with_elmers_glue.php

Featured Q & A

Ice Crunching May Signal Iron Deficiency
Q. What can you tell me about an addiction to ice? Several years ago I developed a strong craving to crunch on ice. I would always have a cup of ice cubes or crushed ice and be eating it. It drives my husband crazy and isn't good for my teeth.

I read that craving ice could be a sign of iron deficiency. My doctor had never heard of this but suggested enteric-coated iron pills, available over the counter. I took one after each meal and in two months my craving for ice disappeared.

These pills have not been available for several years. Other iron supplements upset my stomach so much I cannot take them. A blood test showed that I am anemic and I am now back to crunching on ice cubes whenever I can.

Have you ever heard of ice craving as a result of anemia? What can I do?

A. Doctors have a term for crunching ice: "pagophagia." It is frequently associated with iron deficiency anemia and is similar to pica, in which people have a compulsion to eat nonfood items such as clay or laundry starch. When iron levels are restored to normal, these urges often go away.

Ask your doctor to investigate why you are anemic. If you need iron, enteric coated ferrous sulfate is available from Paddock Labs in Minneapolis. Your pharmacist can order it from a wholesaler or the company.

Featured Home Remedy

Rosemary Rinse Fights Dandruff
I used to rinse my hair with a decoction I made from rosemary plants that I grew in my herb garden.

My hair has always been the 'fly-away' sort, but the rosemary made it manageable and also eliminated dandruff. It made my hair smell nice, too. Growing the rosemary myself made my hair rinse a renewable resource that came from my own yard and saved me money.

You can read more home remedies on our website:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.org/archives/home_remedies/index.php

Health Headlines:

Hidden Hazards in Baby Products?
Baby powder, shampoo and lotion may be adding man-made chemicals called phthalates to infants' bodies. Phthalates are found in many products including plastics, medical equipment, children's toys and cosmetics. These compounds are endocrine disruptors and may alter hormonal balance by mimicking estrogen. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found measurable levels of at least seven different phthalates in 80 percent of the babies in the study. In animals, phthalates are associated with problems in development and reproductive abnormalities. Males seem to be particularly sensitive. The study found that babies exposed to lotion, powder or shampoo were more likely to have phthalates in their urine. Since products are not required to list phthalate ingredients on the label, parents have no way of knowing whether their babies are being exposed to this class of chemicals.
[Pediatrics, February, 2008]
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/121/2/e260

Folic Acid Reduces Risk of Pre-Eclampsia, Pre-Term Birth
Pregnant women have been urged to get adequate folic acid in their diets or prenatal vitamins to prevent birth defects of the spinal cord and brain. Studies have added new reasons to pay attention to folic acid nutrition. In one study of 38,000 pregnant women, those who took folic acid for a year before conceiving were significantly less likely to deliver their baby too early. Preterm birth can lead to dangerous complications for the infant. A different study included nearly 3,000 women in their second trimester of pregnancy. Those who were taking folic acid had less than half the rate of pre-eclampsia. This complication begins with high blood pressure and protein in the urine and can become dangerous for both mother and baby.
[American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, January 2008]
http://www.ajog.org/article/PIIS0002937807008447/abstract

Magnesium Lowers Risk of Cerebral Palsy
Obstetrical researchers have confirmed the value of another old-fashioned dietary supplement. Magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsom salts, can help prevent cerebral palsy. The scientists studied more than 2,000 women who went into labor early, between 24 and 31 weeks. Babies born so much before the full 40-week term of a normal pregnancy are at increased risk of cerebral palsy. About 4 percent of the infants born to mothers given magnesium developed the disorder, compared to 7 percent of those born to mothers given placebo. These results confirm those of a similar study of 3,000 pregnant women in Australia.
[Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Dallas, Feb. 4, 2008]
http://www.ajog.org/issues/contents?issue_key=S0002-9378%2807%29X0913-X

Gout Linked to Soft Drinks
Gout is a very painful condition that has traditionally been linked to diets high in alcohol and proteins such as seafood and meat. Although these dietary correlations are important, researchers have just uncovered another dietary risk factor: sugar-sweetened soft drinks. The Health Professionals Follow-up Study included more than 46,000 men who were followed for 12 years. Those who consumed soft drinks or high levels of fructose sweetener were significantly more likely to develop gout during that time frame. Men who drank two or more soft drinks a day were 85 percent more likely to come down with gout than men who rarely drank any. Those who ate the most fructose-containing foods doubled their risk (102 percent increase) when compared to men who ate the least. One investigator suggests that doctors should advise men with gout or high uric acid levels that indicate a risk of gout to cut back on sugary soft drinks. Diet beverages did not increase the rate of gout.
[Online First issue of the British Medical Journal, February 1, 2008]

Diet Soda Boosts Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a recognized risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. It is characterized by a big belly and elevated blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides. Blood pressure is frequently elevated in people with metabolic syndrome. A new study considered dietary patterns that increase the risk of developing this condition. One surprising discovery was that daily diet soda drinkers were 34 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome than those who didn't indulge in diet soft drinks. The value of diet soda for weight loss has been controversial for years. Some researchers actually believe that artificial sweeteners interfere with the feedback system that tells people when to stop eating. As a result, such beverages might actually make it harder to lose weight.
[Circulation, online, Jan. 22, 2008]
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.716159v1

Sugar Eases Pain of Shot
A spoonful of sugar really may help the medicine go down...or at least may it less painful. Researchers report that babies given a sugar solution before receiving a vaccination were less likely to cry or demonstrate other signs of pain than those who got a placebo. The researchers suggest that a little sugar may take the edge off shots or other minor medical interventions.
[Pediatrics, February 2008; vol 121: pp e327-e334]
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/121/2/e327

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